Hagel in the hot seat during Senate hearing

[caption id="attachment_71999" align="alignright" width="300"] Republican Chuck Hagel, a former two-term GOP senator from Nebraska and President Obama's choice to lead the Pentagon, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Hagel faced strong Republican resistance and was forced to explain past remarks and votes even as he appeared on a path to confirmation as Obama second-term defense secretary and the nation's 24th Pentagon chief. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)[/caption]

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Gordon Reed: It was expected that former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel's hearing would be contentious [“Hagel has it rough in confirmation hearing,” News, Jan. 31].

He is perceived as a threat to the military-industrial-congressional complex. However, what I witnessed was beyond appalling. It started with Sen. John McCain and was followed by an onslaught from Sens. James Inhofe, Ted Cruz, Kirsten Gillibrand and Lindsey Graham, all posturing about trumped-up allegations to score political points.

Hagel has impeccable credentials. He is a hero and a patriot, yet he was abused and browbeaten by all these senators whose votes over the years have gotten us into the mess we are in now. These people have no shame.

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IRVINE, William P. Lewis: Chuck Hagel volunteered in a time of crisis and went to war in Vietnam. He's a decorated war hero. He came home. Many thousands of our troops did not.

Hagel, once an enlisted man, understands the plight of our current military forces and cadre abroad in Afghanistan and other areas across the globe.

He is outspoken. He gets his message across and elicits feedback. Hagel reminds me of Gen. Omar Bradley, who was a senior U.S. Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II. Bradley cared for and embraced his troops. Hagel is the same kind of man and will perform well. He understands and will formulate policies and procedures for returning veterans.

I endorse him wholeheartedly.

Doctor shooting

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Barry Wasserman: Once again we are disheartened and dismayed by a senseless killing [“A great friend and a solid citizen,” Front Page, Jan. 30]. This time the victim was Dr. Ronald Gilbert, age 52. He was a member of the medical community, a profession held in the highest esteem. Reading of his praises by a childhood friend, patients and Dr. Richard Afable, chief executive and president of Hoag Hospital, was extremely saddening.

Physicians, in many ways, are the right hand of God here on Earth. Gilbert, a deeply religious Jewish member of the community and dedicated physician, gave of himself selflessly and tirelessly to his patients and his profession. It is a monumental loss to his family and all those acquainted with him.

It is unconscionable that tragedies like this are occurring with increased frequency. If you previously were of the mindset that there is no such thing as the devil or that he doesn't exist, then you need to find a rational explanation for man's unmitigated cruelty to his fellow man. It is hopeful that they who perpetrate unholy cowardly acts shall be dealt with in a manner of God's choosing when they meet their maker.

Laguna's trees

PLACENTIA, Alan Grotz: I don't understand how a homeowner could hold their neighbor responsible for the loss of a view because their trees are too tall [“Trees vs. views,” Front Page, Jan. 31]. Where does it stop? Did these complaining homeowners pay the offending neighbor an extra fee for the view when they purchased their properties?

Perhaps the previous homeowner or realtor who sold the home may be the culprit. Contact them for selling something that wasn't theirs to sell (a view) to begin with. Owners with the tall trees are not responsible.

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LAGUNA BEACH, Dave Connell: Too many of the wonderful ocean views that were once prevalent in Laguna Beach have been destroyed by overgrown non-native vegetation. It is a huge problem that unnecessarily destroys the unique magnificent ocean and canyon views. It not only causes many home owners to lose the pleasure of their property, it also destroys home value.

Moreover, the open, spacious public views visitors once could see from most areas of Laguna have also been largely destroyed. The Register's article mentioned some of the coastal cities that do not have any view preservation ordinances. Some of those cities may have views in varying degrees, but none of them have the magnificent views that nature has bestowed on Laguna Beach by our special hilly topography.

We have worked on this problem for more than 20 years – with great aggravation and frustration. This problem needs to be resolved with a fair, effective and economical city ordinance.

Wily coyotes

HUMBOLDT ISLAND, Fran Chandler: I have been a resident of Humboldt Island for over 40 years and have had numerous cats that were indoor/outdoor cats. We loved to enjoy them while sitting on our patio. We used to walk around the island and marvel at the beautiful cats people on the island had. Now all we see are mangy coyotes [“Coyote took their cat, sense of security,” Local, Jan. 27].

Why do we have to live with coyotes when we went without them for over 40 years? The Naval Weapons Station destroyed all the foxes and feral cats, but they are reluctant to destroy the coyotes that invade our residential areas.

Coyotes are not an endangered species. By contrast, people in the Midwest know how to handle any nasty coyote – they get rid of them. The population is not decimated as a result, but residents' pets are safer.

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